“So far 2008 has not been kind to the technology trendsetter. With U.S. iPod sales slowing and iPhone hype fading, investors have been seized by worries that the crew in Cupertino isn’t much of a growth story anymore. The stock has fallen 40 percent from its recent highs, losing some $50 billion in market value –and it isn’t clear what could turn things around,” Fortt reports.

“It does seem certain that relief won’t come from Apple’s newest products. The super-slim but pricey MacBook Air laptop that CEO Steve Jobs unveiled in January has met with mixed reviews, and won’t provide enough of a boost to make up for the iPod slowdown. And Apple TV, the second incarnation of Apple’s failed attempt to bring digital downloads to the television, doesn’t seem to be attracting an iPod-like following either; on Amazon, it’s about as popular as a niche backup hard drive,” Fortt reports.

Forrt writes, “So where will Apple go for a sales boost to lift its stock? Perhaps overseas.”

MacBook Air was never meant to “make up” for any so-called “iPod slowdown.” It’s simply a certain type of notebook for a certain type of user. Apple has other notebooks designed to cover the needs of users not addressed by MacBook Air. “iPhone hype fading” = Pointless filler. As for the so-called “iPod slowdown,” we prefer to deal in facts instead of meaningless bullshit, so please see iPod quarterly unit sales below (organized by quarter which clearly illustrates seasonality and continuous, uninterrupted growth, among other things). We won’t even get into how Apple is in the process of establishing iPod as a new mobile platform (iPod touch) and reaping higher margins along the way. The jury’s still out on Apple TV, which is currently earning excellent reviews; it usually takes quite some time for new products/concepts to seep into the consciousness of the general consumer.

Apple doesn’t design products to please Wall Street, it designs products for users to use. That’s why we don’t see BS concepts that never materialize and we see products that are already in production.

” MacBook Air was never meant to “make up” for any so-called “iPod slowdown.” “

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It’s not a “so-called” slowdown, it is very real.. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Apple is not a one-trick pony. They have three other product lines (Macs, iPhones and Apple TV) that are all showing signs of massive growth.. Particularly Macs.

As far as I can remember Apple has never been the darling of Wall Street.

And, I don’t understand why Apple has to be the one in the technology field that has to WOW everyone every 6 months to survive. Meanwhile every other tech company coasts along with the most mediocre products they can produce.

No other company has done any WOWing in decades, yet Apple appears to need to do it for Wall Street to be credible. Microsoft? The “wow” there is that they are still making so much money.

It’s as if Steve Jobs were to come out – Walk on Water – and then hear “That’s awesome – now what can you do?”

I’m not sure that AAPL’s “fall” in stock value has anything to do w/ what the Apple is or isn’t doing–it appears that this is market driven. The market is getting it’s ass kicked, so the obvious target for profit taking is the big earners..Apple happened to be the big target this time..I tend to believe AAPL will climb back–the Co’s solvent and practically debt-free and continues to churn out interesting & popular products..